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Nouveau Monde is seeking providers for both vehicles and charging infrastructure to be put into use at its flagship project in Matawinie, Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
The facility targets full-scale commercial operations by early 2023, with an allocated transition period to fully electrify the fleet there by 2028.
"To encourage a circular economy, we would like to promote our position as a supplier of high-grade graphite by closing the loop and becoming a consumer of the product using the same technology in our mining fleet", the company notes in its call for interest.
The company is seeking equipment including hydraulic excavators, wheel-loaders, bulldozers and production drills, among other items - purchase orders will be issued in the first quarter of 2022.
"Going all-electric is technically achievable, economically sound and environmentally responsible," noted Eric Desaulniers, president and chief executive.
"We are thrilled to be driving innovation and progress in our sector and hope to see our peers embark in this effort to minimize the footprint of the mining industry. Our initial market screening has already shown attractive technologies and ingenious mindset from OEMs that will enable us to achieve our carbon-neutrality promise to our community, shareholders and customers."
It has said the pre-qualification exercise, will "allow us the opportunity to review the current state-of-the-art and ensure there is alignment before issuing the first RFQ [request for quotation]."
"Through the call for pre-qualification, large OEMs and innovative SMEs alike are now invited to submit detailed proposals and performance specs for their production equipment solutions. Whether powered by lithium-ion batteries, plug-in systems or hydrogen fuel cells, Nouveau Monde is seeking the best zero emission equipment."
It noted that there is a demonstration plant already in production that offers an ideal site to test the electric equipment in real conditions.
The submission period is open from November 30, 2020, to January 30, 2021.
